“Curiosities,” I replied.
“Just so,” he said, winking one eye. “I said they was to myself soon as I see the iron bands round ’em. Wal, they’ll weigh up pretty smart. You’ll have to pay for them.”
“Of course,” I said; “anything reasonable.”
“That’s square, mister,” he said, scanning the whole place eagerly. “Now, what might bring you out here, eh?”
“I came to see my uncle,” I replied, annoyed at the fellow’s impertinence, but thinking it better to be civil.
“Did you, though, mister? Find him?”
“Yes, I found him right enough.”
“Did you, though? Old man all right?”
“Quite right.”
“Didn’t stop with him, though?”